Sandwich Sandwich has appointed Paul Hanna as Chief Operating Officer (COO) as it plans to expand to 25 locations across London over the next five years.
Hanna will collaborate closely with Nick Kleiner, the founder of the Bristol-based brand, and his family to drive the vision and strategy behind Sandwich Sandwich’s expansion plans.
The family-owned business, famous for its deep-filled sandwiches, will open its second London location on 17 March in the City of London, just six months after its debut in the capital. Last year, it also expanded its catering service into London, nine years after launching a corporate foodservice arm in Bristol.
Sandwich Sandwich currently operates three sites in Bristol, and Hanna will be responsible for identifying new locations across the UK, with a focus on shopping centres, airports, major travel hubs, business districts, and high street areas.
He will also work on securing new franchise partners to help take the brand to an international level.
Hanna brings over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently serving as Head of Operations at B Bagel, where he oversaw its expansion from three to six locations, along with a central production unit. Prior to that, he spent nearly five years as Group Head of Operations and Franchise at Comptoir Group, managing both company-owned and franchise operations across 27 restaurants worldwide.
He said: “Sandwich Sandwich is truly something special – so joining the team at this stage in their journey is a dream come true. The passion and dedication of everyone involved is extraordinary and because of this drive to go above and beyond in everything we do, Sandwich Sandwich will continue to break boundaries and garner attention.
“We have an exciting road ahead but are determined to do things properly, thinking big, but keeping our feet on the ground and never losing sight of the hard work that we have to put in daily in order to get to where we want to be. We’ve got lots of exciting things planned so watch this space!”
Kleiner said: “With his wealth of experience in franchising, operations, and opening new sites, [Hanna is] an invaluable addition to the team at such a pivotal time.”
Hanna’s appointment at Sandwich Sandwich marks a professional reunion with his father, Chaker, who serves as the non-executive chair of the sandwich chain and was recently reappointed as CEO of Comptoir Group.
Hanna added: “Working with my dad is no mean feat – he’s a true professional, an inspiration to many and very well-respected in the industry so I’m well aware that the bar is high from the start – but given his experience and track record of success, who wouldn’t want to work with him? He’s always been a role model to me (and many others) and I’m extremely proud to be working with him again.”
Sandwich Sandwich was founded in 2010 by Nick Kleiner, a self-taught chef, on Cotham Road South in Bristol.
In 2020, the business developed its signature loaded sandwiches after Josh Kleiner, Nick’s son and Sandwich Sandwich’s head of operations and marketing, was approached by an influencer asking for a bespoke lunch. The sandwich received 300 likes and quickly went viral on social media.
Sandwich Sandwich secured a £100,000 investment after being named Uber Eats' Restaurant of the Year in 2023.
